Mr President, Mr Secretary General,
honorable parliamentarians, it is a privilege for me to address
this august Assembly which is the oldest parliamentary congregation
of European nations, on a day of particular significance for Turkey
in its destiny with Europe.

We are proud to be one of the founding members which, in 1949,
laid the foundation of this common home of European nations that
subscribe to the ideals of pluralistic democracy, the supremacy
of the rule of law, and which uphold fundamental human rights and
freedoms. The Council of Europe has expanded its horizons, in parallel
with the larger transformation undergone in our continent, and today
represents the convergence of roughly 800 million European citizens
around democratic values and legal standards. We extend a warm welcome
to our most recent member and wholeheartedly congratulate Monaco
on this occasion.

As a pan-European forum, the Council’s place and role within
the new European architecture requires new definition.

In this connection, the extensive acquis of the Council, elaborated
over fifty years through numerous European instruments in several
fields, constitutes an important foundation for other European institutions.

In this framework, we support the European Union becoming
party to the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Cultural
Convention and the Revised European Social Charter. The 3rd Summit
of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe, scheduled
to take place in Warsaw next year in May, will provide a timely
opportunity to give guidance, particularly in the aftermath of the
enlargement of the European Union, on the future role of the Council
within the new European architecture.

Mr President, the norms of the Council of Europe, embodied
in more than 190 conventions, provide a basic point of reference
for Turkey. The adoption of European norms in Turkish legislation
continues to this day and has been a principal component of our
current reform process. In fact, earlier this morning Turkey deposited with
the Secretary General instruments of ratification for three more
European conventions and signed two additional ones.

Mr President, shortly after the Justice and Development Party
assumed office in Turkey, in January 2003, our current Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs stood before this Assembly
as Prime Minister and outlined our commitments to reforms. Despite
the short period of time that has elapsed since then, I am pleased
to be able to state that nearly all those commitments are already
fulfilled.

I would like to briefly refer to some of these comprehensive
reforms. We abolished the death penalty and eliminated it from law.
We will shortly complete the procedures for the ratification of
Protocol No. 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights.

We dissolved the state security courts.

We have effectively adopted and implemented a “zero tolerance”
policy towards torture and inhuman and degrading treatment, as reflected
in the reports of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture.

We have aligned civilian-military relations in conformity
with democratic norms.

We have adopted regulations to promote gender equality and
enshrined it as a principle in the constitution for the first time.

We have enabled broadcasting in and learning of the languages
and dialects traditionally used by Turkish citizens in their everyday
lives.

We have adopted a law for compensating losses of victims of
terrorism which afflicted Turkish society during the 1980s and 1990s.

The comprehensive legislative reforms we have enacted, and
the measures we have taken to expedite their uniform implementation,
have been coined as a “silent revolution” by the Independent Commission
on Turkey composed of eminent European politicians in their report
issued past month. I appreciate that the Assembly recognised and
commended our reform programme and concluded, last June, the monitoring
procedure for Turkey by a large majority.

Mr President, legal changes that will enable Turkey to become
a party to the International Criminal Court, as is the case with
the majority of the members of the Council of Europe, are among
the reforms that we have accomplished. In this context, our new
Penal Code includes the crime of genocide and crimes against humanity in
line with contemporary norms. We enacted the necessary amendments
to the constitution. Having completed the domestic legal preparations,
I would like to announce today from this rostrum that Turkey will, in
the near future, ratify the Rome Statute and become a party to the
International Criminal Court.

Mr President, today is a date of particular significance for
Turkey in its accession process to the European Union. We are confident
that the positive tone set by the Commission report and recommendation
will be matched by the political will on the part of the leadership
of the member states of the European Union. We hope to bring a long-travelled
road to its final lap with the initiation of accession negotiations
in the first half of 2005. Turkey’s membership will not be realised
overnight. Certainly Turkey anticipates concluding this phase within a
reasonable period of time. To this end, we, in Turkey, will fulfil
our share.

Mr President, the transformation that has taken place in Turkish
society is also reflected in the adoption of the European culture
of compromise, as was demonstrated in the policy of the Turkish
Government in efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.
The resolve demonstrated by Turkey for a just and lasting resolution
of this problem and its positive contributions to the efforts of
the UN Secretary-General to achieve a comprehensive settlement are
acknowledged by the international community.

Regrettably, the process of negotiations, strongly supported
by Turkey leading up to the simultaneous referenda held on the island
on 24 April 2004, did not yield the positive outcome. Let me recall
that the Turkish Cypriot side, by a large majority in favour of
the Annan plan, demonstrated their political will for unification
and membership in the European Union.

The outcome of the referenda has created a new state of affairs
in Cyprus. In his latest report on his mission of good offices in
Cyprus, the UN Secretary-General clearly underlines that “the Turkish
Cypriot vote has undone any rationale for pressuring and isolating
them” and calls on all states to co-operate both bilaterally and in
international bodies to eliminate unnecessary restrictions and barriers
that have the effect of isolating the Turkish Cypriots and impeding
their development. Six months have elapsed since the referenda on
the island. Now is the time to end the political, economic, social
and cultural isolation that the Turkish Cypriots have been subjected
to. I call on the international community to lift the unfair economic
embargo imposed on them for decades. Concrete measures need to be
taken to facilitate direct commercial, cultural and transportation
links.

As an organisation dedicated to the development of European
co-operation, the Council of Europe can take a leading role in this
direction. The decision adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe two days ago to include the elected representatives
of the Turkish Cypriots in its deliberations is a step in the right
direction. It is only natural that the Turkish Cypriots, who have
made a European choice, take their due place in this forum for pan-European
dialogue and co-operation.

Mr President, while the new century offers much promise for
the promotion of democracy, good governance and human rights at
global level, it is also replete with a whole new spectrum of unpredictable
and lethal challenges.

Terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
top the list of perils that pose a major threat to our security
and liberty. Terrorism today has become truly global. Accordingly,
our struggle with this scourge requires a new level of coherence
and solidarity. Indiscriminate acts of terror committed throughout
the world target the entire humanity. Terrorism knows no national
or regional boundaries and cannot be affiliated with any one religion
or cause.

It is a crime against humanity that cannot be justified under
any circumstance. Turkey encourages the Council of Europe to play
a more active role in the normative as well as the practical aspects
of combating terrorism.

In this context, I invite the Council of Europe to intensify
its contacts with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to
promote a dialogue between diverse cultures and religions. Turkey,
as a member of both organisations, is ready to exert the necessary
effort to this end.

Mr President, before drawing to a close, I turn to developments
taking place close to us in Turkey, just across our borders, in
Iraq. The grave security situation is also a matter of deep concern
for all countries contributing to the humanitarian efforts to rehabilitate,
reconstruct and reinstate law and order in that country.

The transfer of authority to the Interim Iraqi Government
was the first step towards normalisation. However, the road ahead
to political stability is still full of dangers and threats. We
remain committed to assisting the Interim Iraqi Government in its
daunting task to improve security, stability and prosperity for
Iraq.

For the restoration of stability, the preservation of the
integrity and unity, the establishment of a government fully representing
all segments of society and the reconstruction of Iraq are matters
of vital concern for Turkey, as well as for the whole region.

We also play a leading role in the consultation mechanism
between Iraq and her neighbours. Turkey launched this initiative
and through it we seek to make a collective contribution. We would
like to see a democratic Iraq, free from terror, at peace with itself
and its neighbours and fully reintegrated with the international
community. Turkey has no agenda, other than contributing to the
emergence of a stable Iraq.

Mr President, I thank you for this opportunity today to address
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which represents
our continent’s common heritage of unity in diversity. In concluding,
I reiterate our strong commitment to the common quest to upholding
individual freedoms, human rights, political liberty and the rule
of law as well as to the consolidation of security and democracy
throughout our continent. Turkey will continue to be an active member
of the Council of Europe. Thank you.

Thank you
very much, Mr Erdogan, for your most interesting address. Members
of the Assembly have expressed a wish to put questions to you.

I remind colleagues that questions must be limited to thirty
seconds and no more. Colleagues should ask questions and not make
speeches. I will allow supplementary questions at the end and only
if time permits.

The first question is by Mr van der Linden, on behalf of the
Group of the European People’s Party.

Mr VAN DER LINDEN (Netherlands)

I congratulate
the Prime Minister on the legal and political developments implemented
as part of the process of preparing Turkey for membership of the
European Union. As Turkey goes through the enormous reform process,
one of the most delicate domains is the implementation of all the
laws and regulations that form part of the acquis communautaire.
How does the Prime Minister envisage the following up, the acceleration,
the improvement and the monitoring of that reform process? Does he
imagine that the European Union will have a monitoring mechanism
for the implementation and does he think that the Council of Europe
could play a supporting role in that?

Mr Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey (interpretation)

said that Turkey was implementing
the Copenhagen criteria and had been successful in completing legislative
changes to implement the road map. The next step was the change
in mentality following the legislative changes, which would take
longer. However, the political will existed to implement the necessary
changes.

Mr EORSI (Hungary)

Liberals have
always been and will continue to be supporters of Turkey’s accession
to the European Union. As the Cyprus rapporteur, I welcome the Prime
Minister’s words today. When Mr Prodi visited Ankara earlier this
year he said that Cyprus was not a precondition for entry. How should
we read that sentence? Does it mean that even if the Cyprus issue
is not resolved, Turkey can join the European Union, or does that
mean that even if the Cyprus issue is resolved, Turkey’s chances
are limited? In any case, I wish the Prime Minister the best of
luck.

Mr Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey (interpretation)

thanked his liberal friend. He
said that he was sincerely active on the Cyprus issue: he had told
Secretary-General Annan that Turkey would be one step ahead of Greece
in the fourth round of the negotiations. Turkey had fully implemented
her promises. On 24 April, Turkish Cypriots had shown the world
that they were in favour of globalisation and peace. The Greek Cypriots
were not interested, they were stuck in economic and transport issues,
and he was grateful to the Council of Europe for its work on the
issue. The Turkish Cypriot side was making changes; it no longer
made enemies, but rather reinforced peace, freedom and friendship.

Mr KOX (Netherlands)

According
to Human Rights Watch, Turkey shows continued improvement in the freedom
of the press and of religion, and in respect for minorities, and
I compliment the Prime Minister on these results. Is the Turkish
Government now prepared to take all the necessary and irreversible
steps to end all torture in police stations and jails, to facilitate
the return of all displaced Kurds, to end the suffering of Turkey’s Kurdish
citizens and to repair the damage done to them as much as possible?

Mr Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey (interpretation)

said Commissioner Verheugen,
who was in charge of EU enlargement, had visited Turkey where he
had been informed of concerns regarding torture. He had sent an
expert group to Turkey to look into that issue. The group’s report
had said there was no systematic torture in Turkey, in its prisons
or elsewhere. Individual incidents did occur, but the government
did not condone them. He concluded by saying that some of those
who claimed to be tortured had been in contact with terrorists,
and that caused a problem.

Ms DURRIEU (France) (translation)

I should like
to congratulate the Prime Minister on the huge number of reforms carried
out. I would point out that I am Chair of the Monitoring Committee.

Turkey is a secular state. Only three countries represented
in this Chamber have included secularism in their constitutions.
How does the Prime Minister intend preserving it on a daily basis?
Does he realise the scale of the damage caused and the doubts raised
by the attempt to include adultery as an offence in the Criminal Code?

Mr Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey (interpretation)

said that secularism, which allowed
separation between religious and state affairs, was not a new concept
for Turkey. It was specified in the 1982 constitution. It was a
guarantee that the state was equally distant from all religious
beliefs. The issue of adultery had not been raised on the draft
criminal code. It had exploded onto the agenda and been widely debated
in the media. He believed that the media had exaggerated its true
importance. The matter had been resolved by not including adultery
in the Criminal Code.

Mr LOUTFI (Bulgaria) (translation)

Bulgaria and
Turkey are neighbouring countries that have excellent relations.

What is the Prime Minister’s assessment of the current state
of relations between Turkey and Bulgaria in the context of security
and stability in South-Eastern Europe, as the two countries are
members of Nato and will probably be partners in the European Union?

Mr Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey (interpretation)

said that Turkey had excellent
relations with Bulgaria, particularly with the current government.
One of his first targets for foreign policy had been to improve
relations with all countries. He had visited Bulgaria and his ministers
continued to have dialogue with the Bulgarian Government. Romania
and Bulgaria expected to become full members of the European Union
in 2007. Turkey hoped soon to join the list of EU accession states.
That would undoubtedly bring the two countries closer together.
Turkey had many collective issues with Bulgaria regarding security
in the Balkans, and he hoped that the two countries would work together
on them.

Mr GROSS (Switzerland)

Mr Prime
Minister, will you share with us your ideas on the potential that
Turkey has to build bridges between Europe and the Middle East and
the Far East, and to build bridges between two religions that have
to find a peace that is in the interests of both?

Mr Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey (interpretation)

said he would answer the question
not by speaking of a bridge that might be built geographically,
but by speaking of a bridge that would be built culturally. Turkey would
build bridges to the Middle East. The world was waiting for Turkey
to assume that role. Turkey was aware of its responsibility.

Mr VAN DEN BRANDE (Belgium)

As a rapporteur,
I was in favour of proposing the ending of the monitoring procedure
on Turkey. The Assembly invited Turkey to reform, inter alia, local
and regional government and to introduce real decentralisation.
It seems that progress is being made through plans and projects,
but there is still an enormous gap in redistributing institutional,
human and financial resources. What commitment can you give that
there will be a fundamental change and what are the plans for implementation?

Mr Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey (interpretation)

said that his background was
in local government. He had spent four years as Lord Mayor of Istanbul.
He recognised the importance of decentralisation. Turkey was attempting
to implement a law to enable decentralisation to take place. However,
there had been some objections, and parliament would be asked to
reconsider some aspects of the legislation. Turkey’s Parliament was
ready to work on that and would co-operate with the Turkish President
to achieve that.

Mr MOLLAZADE (Azerbaijan)

Prime Minister,
you represent a country that has been purposely created and designed
as a model for other Turkish- populated and Muslim-populated countries
and as a European country. You have undergone political and legal
reform. What is the state of the Turkish economy in comparison with those
of neighbouring eastern European countries and others that have
been invited to join the European Union? Are you continuing to combat
corruption? It was one of the major parts of your programme. What
is the situation?

Mr Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey (interpretation)

noted that the Constitution of
Turkey established the state as a democratic and secular one, but
it was correct to say that 99% of the population were Muslim. The Turkish
economy had displayed exemplary growth recently. When the current
government had come to power, the average purchasing power had been
US$2 600 and this had since reached US$4 000. On 3 November 2002,
when the present administration took office, the growth rate was
7.8%. The 2003 target was 5% and that had been exceeded, reaching
5.9%. In the first six months of 2004 the growth rate had been 13.4%.
In the ninth month of 2004 Turkey was registering single-digit inflation,
down from 30% under the previous government.

He accepted that the main weakness remained the heavy debt
burden carried by the state. Combined interest rates had reached
69%, but he was happy to announce that current debt servicing rates
were 23% or 24%, a healthier ratio. Major progress was being made
in investment, which reached US$20 billion at the end of July 2004.
Direct foreign investment represented US$1.8 billion, and international
analyses demonstrated that Turkey was the largest country attracting
foreign investments.

In 2005 Turkey would reform her currency and erase six noughts,
so ensuring even better economic performance which would serve her
well as negotiations with the EU began. With respect to corruption,
the government had not faced a single allegation since coming to
power, but if an allegation were received it would be followed up
with vigour. The government would attempt to remedy what citizens
had previously lost through corruption.

Ms PETROVA-MITEVSKA (“the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”)

The Republic of Turkey was one of the first countries to recognise
the independence of the Republic of Macedonia under its constitutional
name. Relations between our two countries, which have profound roots,
are constantly improving. The Turkish minority in “the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia” and Turkish citizens of Macedonian origin
have made a great contribution to that. Will the integration of
Turkey into Europe – the dilemmas have now been overcome – include
enhancing the underdeveloped economic relations with “the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and its neighbouring countries?

Mr Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey (interpretation)

referred to the presence of Turkish
people in “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and said he
had visited there before becoming Prime Minister. There were common
values and cultural points between the two countries. Political
relations would be sustained with neighbouring countries during
the negotiations with the EU, and “the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia” should have no concern about the continuing development
of relations.

Mr MANZELLA (Italy) (translation)

Prime Minister,
I hope that today, 6 October, will prove a historic day for Turkey
and for the rest of Europe. I have two questions on regional stability.
How are developments in the situation in Iraq affecting Turkey?
Secondly, what is your assessment of Iran’s nuclear policy?

Mr Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey (interpretation)

said that Iraq was a continuing
problem, and Turkey could not pretend to be happy with current developments.
Scores of people were being killed each day, in particular, women,
children and innocent victims. The death of such people brought
civilised society into disrepute. He had concerns about the future
for Iraq and noted that it was important to make the correct diagnosis
before attempting to solve the problem.

Turkey was fully committed to assisting in Iraq under the
auspices of the United Nations, and more than 2 000 Turkish trucks
were travelling to Iraq. The drivers faced the twin dangers of death
and kidnapping. Even those who have been released after being held
as hostages are known to have returned to Iraq in order to meet
that country’s economic needs. The forthcoming elections provided
some hope and Turkey was prepared to help in any possible way. Self-government
was the way forward for Iraq, and the occupation by foreign forces
should end.

Northern Iraq was in a different situation, with a different
understanding and a different mentality. Turkey did not want any
one ethnic group in northern Iraq to have power over another. That
would create an imbalance of power and would threaten territorial
integrity. The riches of the land belonged to the Iraqi people;
for example, the oil in Kirkuk would create a problem if any one
ethnic group tried to confiscate it.

He had been told, on his last visit to Iran, that Iran was
working with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and regarded
nuclear power as a solution to her energy needs. Nuclear energy
could be useful if it was in the hands of a responsible country.
Various countries around the world used nuclear energy and the IAEA was
controlling the situation in Iran.

Mr OSTROVSKY (Russian Federation) (interpretation)

said
that the Russian Federation had data about Turkish citizens in armed
gangs on Russian territory. Russian nationals had also returned
to Turkish territory to train and to receive medical help. He asked
what measures the Prime Minister was taking against Russian terrorists
who had taken refuge in Turkey.

Mr Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey (interpretation)

said that Russian nationals were
different from terrorists. Turkish intelligence agencies worked
with Russian intelligence agencies and exchanged information. They
knew there were some terrorists hidden in Turkey and likewise Turkish
terrorists were hidden in the Russian Federation. There was a common
struggle and a common problem. The two countries would work together
to achieve success against terrorist organisations.

Mr FOMENKO (Russian Federation)

Dear
Prime Minister, may I say what fast and impressive progress your cabinet
has made in implementing Council of Europe principles and practices
in the political culture of the Republic of Turkey? Is it realistic
for us Orthodox Christians of Europe to hope to be granted the opportunity
to attend the Orthodox mass in our holy place of St Sofia Basilica,
which is now the Agia Sofia Museum?

Mr Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey (interpretation)

said that on that matter there
were treaties, agreements, rules, laws and procedures dating back
into history, so he could not give a definite answer. However, Christians
and Jewish citizens could freely practise their religions without
obstacles in the Orthodox and Catholic churches and the synagogues
in Turkey. Christians and Jews were free to construct new churches
and synagogues. The wording of planning laws had been changed so
that they no longer referred to mosques but to prayer areas. Everybody
was free to pray in his or her own religion.

THE PRESIDENT

We must
now conclude the questions to Mr Erdogan. On behalf of the Assembly,
I thank him most warmly for his address and for the answers he has
given to the questions. Mr Erdogan, I thank you and all your colleagues
for coming.